If you are cursed with having to work in a small kitchen, then you understand the principle that every inch counts. You probably have been very diligent about not purchasing too many large platters and pans. You have carefully allocated space for each of your kitchen accessories and have most likely chosen to purchase the smallest sizes of accessories available.
Working in small kitchens can be stressful. There is the constant feeling that you never have enough counter space or that nothing ever fits properly in your cupboard. You probably even feel like to spend more time trying to organize things than you do actually cooking or preparing meals.
If your kitchen is small, chances are good that you may be able to do some renovations to expand. If you own your own home, then contact a local contractor to take a look at your space and determine what the two of you can do to make it larger. However, if you are renting, then you are in a boat that you cannot change. You will need to work with the space you have.
It is well worth your time to make a few small investments into some organizational devices that will help you to expand your kitchen capacity by simply maximizing your usable space. If you do not know where to begin with organization, continue reading this advice, but also spend some time talking to friends and neighbors that might be in similar boats. Take a trip to the kitchen remodeling store in your area to see what ideas and organizational units they might have to offer and do some additional research online into unique products that will make your life considerably easier. You may have to pay the price of having a small kitchen, but you are not destitute and alone.
First, downsize. If you have cooking items that you do not use on a regular basis, either throw them out, or put them in storage somewhere else. There is a plethora of kitchen items that are too large to be able to store in the valuable kitchen space you have. Delegate that space to the items that you use on a regular, even daily basis.
Throw away other items that you do not need or use. This includes emptying your junk drawer and tossing out everything that is not organized or that appears to be unused and taking up space. This includes dining out menus, used birthday candles and all of the chip clips that you never actually use.
Once your space is cleaned out, then install some storage systems that will help to expand your useable area. Use a pot rack to help you free up under the counter space. The pot rack will be perfect especially if you are the type of person that has too many pots, but needs them all. Pot racks will also create easy access when you are cooking.
Install shallow wire shelves on the back of your door. These shelves can hold soup cans and pasta boxes and will be able to be tucked away out of site with the close of a door.
Finally, purchase tiered spice racks that will lift the back spices up higher than the front spices. You will be able to see the spices better and your space will feel more customized to your needs. These are small changes that will help you make the most out of your small kitchen.